Ripened gourds

The whole world is encompassed
in the swell of your belly
bursting with life
fecund and ripe
your breasts are full
swollen
like gourds
laden on branches lowering over the path
tempting all travellers to reach up
and pluck

the vales of open phials sweat ,
and brimstone fragrances fill My nostrils
shall I turn the turgid page
and close the book
that cannot allow sheened flesh.

Empty sockets stare out at Us
watching as the aeons smile down
souls entwined
enraptured
glowing in their cadenced
union
eternal as the shore rocks
redoubts of love
standing fast